rock-and-roll music
By seabreeze
@seabreeze (659)
China
June 20, 2007 2:11am CST
Easier - "Rock 'N Roll" is a type of music. It "shook things up" in the 1950s and 1960s. Many musical styles from around the world contributed to this new sound. Along with the African American influence, rock 'n roll also drew on the lyrical melodies of recent European immigrants and the country and western music of Texans.
First, the music became popular in small clubs and on the radio. Later, with the introduction of programs such as American Bandstand, teenagers could watch their favorite bands on television. Not everyone was excited about this music. Many parents didn't like the suggestive dancing, naughty lyrics, and loud, fast beat.
Harder - "Rock 'N Roll" is a musical genre whose 'golden age' is usually recognized as the decades of the 1950's and 1960's. This musical form had its beginnings in the blues tunes, gospel music, and jazz-influenced vocal music that became popular among African-American audiences after World War II. A new kind of blues, it featured electrically amplified guitars, harmonicas, and drummers that emphasized afterbeats. At the same time, black gospel music grew in popularity. These forms of black popular music were given the label rhythm and blues (R and B) and were played on big-city radio stations. Radio spread this music's appeal from black communities to towns throughout all of the United States. By the mid-1950's such performers as Little Richard, Joe Turner, and Chuck Berry were becoming popular with white audiences. Radio disc jockeys began calling their music rock 'n roll.
1 response
@SHENANDOAH (2)
• United States
21 Jun 07
seabreeze, you pretty much nailed it. Most all early rock bands were influenced by the black sound and blues. Bands such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were opening acts for black artists back in the day.
But it didn't stop there. The sound carried on thru later bands also. Though it may have been indirectly later bands were influenced by the earlier bands who were influenced directly by the black artists, thus carrying on that "new kind of blues" in particular.
I am a classic rock-n-roll and heavy metal fan. I often hear the music of such black artists as Otis Redding, Muddy Waters, Wilson Picket and many others come up as influences when they talk about where their music came from.
Rock-n-roll will never die. And as long as rock-n-roll is alive all those musical styles from around the world that helped make up rock-n-roll will never die either.
